Budget Cuts Take Effect
When students around the district packed their backpacks and teachers prepared their lesson plans for the return to school this year, they faced many new changes and challenges. These challenges arise from a new budget, implemented this year, that includes several major cuts around the district. The major cuts begin at the elementary level, where enrichment programs and health teachers have been eliminated. Changes continue at both Candlewood and West Hollow Middle School; school days have been cut down to eight periods, discarding classes like computers and math seminar. In addition, other classes have been modified such as 6th grade language classes, which have now become a “Exploration of World Language” class. Furthermore, the reductions have brought about the removal of Drivers Education from Hills West and reduced the number of administrators from four to three.
In addition to a tough economy and declining enrollment, the budget cuts stem from a new state-implemented school district budget formula, known as the “2% Property Tax Levy Cap.” The formula requires that the Half Hollow Hills Central School District makes approximately 9.5 million dollars of budget reductions for the 2013-2014 school year. To make these necessary reductions, the Board of Education considered closing schools. After parent and student responses, this idea was scrapped and replaced with smaller miscellaneous changes to larger ones like shortening the middle school day to eight periods.
Its has been a tough adjustment to the new budget cuts for students and administrators alike. “We have managed to keep class sizes the same and we are trying to maintain programs and all facilities” noted new Hills West Principal Catapano. Despite this, certain cutbacks like eliminating Drivers Education and reducing the number of assistant principals from four to three had to be taken by the district. Dr. Catapano says that his involvement in the budget making process is “limited” and that the Board of Education is mostly in control of making cuts. “We are trying to cope through these difficult times” said Dr. Catapano. Students were mostly upset by last year’s announcement that Drivers Education would be cut. Some however, like Junior Paul Decarlo, were more understanding. “Nearly everyone in this school has the time and money to take Drivers Ed outside of school” said Decarlo, noting that most schools do not offer Drivers Education like Hills West previously did.
While Half Hollow Hills has had to do away with certain programs, classes and positions, we must remember in these challenging times that we are not alone and that many other school districts are facing similar dilemmas. Considering the extensive cuts that were originally proposed, it can be said that students were fortunate to only endure minor setbacks. However, as district-wide enrollment and tax base decreases, students can expect similar rounds of budget cuts for the school years to come.
